Republican petitions challenged in 72nd District

Petition challenges have been filed against both Republican candidates running in the primary to unseat Democratic state Rep. Frank Burns.

A Pittsburgh attorney filed objections against signatures filed by Scott Hunt and Eric Keim on behalf of Ann and Kevin Byich of Mineral Point in Jackson Township Tuesday. Tuesday was the last day to file petition objections.

Candidates for House races need 300 signatures to appear on the primary ballot. Of Keim’s 312 signatures, the Byichs are challenging 225. Of Hunt’s 392 signatures, the Byichs are challenging 143.

The Byichs do not have a listed telephone number. Their attorney, Ronald Brown, could not be reached for comment.

According to campaign financial disclosure documents, Brown has donated a total of $1,900 to the campaigns of five Democrats, state Reps. Matt Smith, Jesse White, Eugene Depasquale and Dan Surra and Judge Michael Marmo, since 2004. The Byichs have not made contributions to any state campaigns since 2004.

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The Byichs claim the petitions include illegible signatures, signers whose names are not consistent with voters records and signers who are not registered at the addresses provided on the sheet.

Both men said they are ready to continue with their campaigns, despite the filings.

Hunt challenged then-state Rep. Tom Yewcic in 2006, but his petition was not challenged.

“I guess I got lucky the first time,” Hunt said.

Hunt said he believes the challenge was filed because he is perceived as a threat. He said “without a doubt” Burns or the Democratic Party is behind the action.

“Otherwise Eric’s wouldn’t have been challenged as well,” he said. “Everyone has the right to get on the ballot. They found someone in the Republican Party, in my district, to file the complaint.”

Keim, an instrumentation and electrical technician at the Colver Power Project, said he could not comment on the specifics of the filing because he had not read it.

“It’s not totally unexpected (keeping) in mind things I have learned since I lived in Cambria County and over the course of this primary season,” he said. “This entire incident here certainly appears to have some element of a conspiracy to prevent a candidate on the Republican ticket in the May primary.”

Keim found it odd that both petitions were being challenged.

“Who would benefit from both of us being off the ballot?” Keim said.

“I have to question their motives,” he added of the filers.

Keim said the filings echo a movement in Cambria County among members of both parties to keep certain people out of office.

“The people of Cambria County, for whatever reason, are being deprived of the right to choose their government representative,” he said. “There is a pattern of behavior with certain group of individuals within Cambria County for many years to deprive residents of free and open choice to choose the leader they want.”

Keim said he would run a write-in campaign if he is tossed from the ballot.

“The 312 people that signed my petitions want me to run, absolutely,” Keim said. “And the 380-some-odd people that signed Scott’s ballot want him to run.”

Hunt said he would as well.

“Regardless if I get tossed off ballot or not, I am running for state representative,” he said.

Burns did not return telephone, text message or e-mail requests for comment Tuesday night. Local party officials said they do not know who, if anyone, is behind the action.

“If it was the party behind them I certainly would know about it,” said Helen Whiteford, Cambria County Democratic Party chairwoman. “It’s news to me.”

Somerset County Democratic Party Chairman John Vatavuk said Somerset County Democrats are not responsible for the filing.

Challenges are heard before Commonwealth Court judges. It was not clear Tuesday whether a court date had been set.